Lake Coeur d'alene
BY Chrissy Wells
description
Lake Coeur d’Alene is a natural lake that is left over from the Missoula flood from the Ice Age in the upper Idaho panhandle. There are 55 other natural lakes around Lake Coeur d’Alene, but it is the most known as a tourist destination.
Lake Coeur d’Alene is about 25 miles long and can range between 1 to 3 miles wide depending on the season. There is over 109 miles of shoreline to explore. Two rivers feed into Lake Coeur d’Alene, they are the Coeur d’Alene River and the Saint Joe River. The one outflow river is the Spokane River.
The Coeur d’Alene Lake was used to transport lumber from Kootenai County. The city of Coeur d’Alene grew up from Fort Coeur d’Alene that was built by General William T. Sherman. They named the fort after the Indian people that lived there. Coeur d’Alene is French for “heart of the awl”, “sharp-hearted”, or “shrewd”. This was because the natives were shrewd traders. By order of Ulysses S. Grant, the Coeur d’Alene tribe were given ownership of the lake and the surrounding town by the United States Supreme Court in 1873.
Many people scuba dive in the lake to see the remains of old Ford Model T’s that have fallen into the lake when the ice broke up. They also can see the remains of old steamboat ships that burned when they were used to transport people and goods across the lake.
This international destination resort is now referred to as “Your Lakeside Playground”. Today, there are many things that you can do. Swimming in the lake between June and September, the water is a refreshing 68°. There is bird watching, specifically for Osprey and Bald Eagles, as those birds populate the area in large numbers. There are also trails for joggers and walkers on the North and Northeast side of the lake and at the South end. There are water sports like boating, whitewater rafting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and guided trips. There are natural attractions to see, scenic byways, parks, and horseback riding.
Lake Coeur d’Alene is about 25 miles long and can range between 1 to 3 miles wide depending on the season. There is over 109 miles of shoreline to explore. Two rivers feed into Lake Coeur d’Alene, they are the Coeur d’Alene River and the Saint Joe River. The one outflow river is the Spokane River.
The Coeur d’Alene Lake was used to transport lumber from Kootenai County. The city of Coeur d’Alene grew up from Fort Coeur d’Alene that was built by General William T. Sherman. They named the fort after the Indian people that lived there. Coeur d’Alene is French for “heart of the awl”, “sharp-hearted”, or “shrewd”. This was because the natives were shrewd traders. By order of Ulysses S. Grant, the Coeur d’Alene tribe were given ownership of the lake and the surrounding town by the United States Supreme Court in 1873.
Many people scuba dive in the lake to see the remains of old Ford Model T’s that have fallen into the lake when the ice broke up. They also can see the remains of old steamboat ships that burned when they were used to transport people and goods across the lake.
This international destination resort is now referred to as “Your Lakeside Playground”. Today, there are many things that you can do. Swimming in the lake between June and September, the water is a refreshing 68°. There is bird watching, specifically for Osprey and Bald Eagles, as those birds populate the area in large numbers. There are also trails for joggers and walkers on the North and Northeast side of the lake and at the South end. There are water sports like boating, whitewater rafting, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and guided trips. There are natural attractions to see, scenic byways, parks, and horseback riding.
Best times to visit and fees
The lake and the many activities available are open year round. Some activities might not be available in different seasons. To see all available attractions and prices go to: http://www.lakecoeurdalene.com/
Map
location
Coeur d'Alene is a lake front town that is a short 40 minute drive East from Spokane, Washington.